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Master Direction · Reserve Bank of India

Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Certificate of Deposit) Directions, 2021

UR

The four dates on this rule

At a glanceA CD is a bank's unsecured promissory note against money it holds, for up to one year. Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Small Finance Banks may issue CDs. This rulebook is RBI's 2021 Directions for Certificates of Deposit.

Official RBI page

Numbers to remember

one yearA CD is a bank's unsecured promissory note against money it holds, for up to one year. RBI Para 2
Rs 5 lakhA CD is issued in steps of Rs 5 lakh. RBI Para 5
seven daysA CD lasts at least seven days and at most one year. RBI Para 5
one monthRBI can stop a person or firm from dealing in CDs for up to one month. RBI Para 9

What it says

Must know

1. What a CD is

A CD is a bank's unsecured promissory note against money it holds, for up to one year.

2. Which banks may issue CDs

Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Small Finance Banks may issue CDs.

3. Who can buy a CD

A certificate of deposit can be issued to any person resident in India.

4. CDs must be dematerialised

CDs are issued only in demat form, held with a SEBI-registered depository.

5. Minimum size, Rs 5 lakh

A CD is issued in steps of Rs 5 lakh.

BankPulse example. BankPulse example. A bank issuing one CD for Rs 32 lakh rounds the amount to Rs 35 lakh, a multiple of Rs 5 lakh.

6. CD's minimum and maximum tenor

A CD lasts at least seven days and at most one year.

7. Where a CD trades

A CD trades over the counter, ETPs included, or on an exchange with RBI's approval.

8. Resale settles T+0 or T+1

A CD resale settles the same day or the next business day.

9. Resale settles DvP

Every resale of a CD settles funds against securities together.

10. No loans against a CD

A bank cannot lend money against a CD unless RBI allows it.

11. Issuer may buy back CDs

The bank that issued a CD may buy it back before maturity.

12. Buyback waits seven days

A CD cannot be bought back until seven days after it is issued.

13. Same buyback terms for all

A buyback offer must go to every holder of that CD on the same terms.

14. Holder may refuse a buyback

Each investor may accept or refuse the buyback offer.

15. A bought-back CD is cancelled

A CD that is bought back, even partly, is cancelled for good.

16. Trading hours, 9 to 5

CDs trade between 9 AM and 5 PM on a business day.

17. No grace period on repayment

RBI gives no extra time to repay a CD at maturity.

18. RBI can demand information anytime

RBI may ask anyone dealing in CDs for details or an explanation.

19. RBI can bar a dealer

RBI can stop a person or firm from dealing in CDs for up to one month.

20. A hearing comes first

RBI must give the person a chance to defend themselves first.

21. This rule wins over others

If another regulator's rule conflicts with this one, this one wins.

Do it

1. Report issuance the same day

The issuer reports a new CD's issuance by 5.30 PM that day.

2. Report a resale fast

Both sides report a CD resale to F-TRAC within 15 minutes.

3. Report a buyback promptly

The issuer reports a buyback to F-TRAC by 5.30 PM that day.

4. Depositories report CD holdings fortnightly

Depositories tell RBI what CDs they hold, twice a month.

Background

1. Called the 2021 Directions

This rulebook is RBI's 2021 Directions for Certificates of Deposit.

2. Started 7 June 2021

This rule started on 7 June 2021.

3. What a Bank means here

Bank includes a Payment Bank and a Small Finance Bank, among others.

4. What Delivery versus Payment means

In DvP, the buyer's funds and the seller's securities move at the same time.

5. What a Depository is

Depository has the same meaning as in the Depositories Act, 1996.

6. What an ETP is

An Electronic Trading Platform takes its meaning from RBI's 2018 ETP Directions.

7. What OTC markets means

OTC markets cover deals not done on an exchange, ETPs included.

8. What counts as an SFB

A Small Finance Bank is licensed under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

9. AIFIs follow a separate rule

All India Financial Institutions follow a separate 2015 RBI master circular instead.

10. CDs issue T+1

A CD is issued the day after its offer period ends, on a T+1 basis.

11. Discount or coupon pricing

A CD may be sold at a discount to its face value.

12. RBI may publish CD data

RBI can publish anonymised data on primary and secondary CD trades.

13. RBI may make it public

RBI can also make the ban public.

14. Old CDs keep old rules

A CD issued under the old 2016 rule stays on that rule until it matures.

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